Method for the simultaneous non-overlapping representation of at least two data visualization windows in a display area of a monitor of a data processing installation

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for the simultaneous non-overlapping representation of at least further data visualization window in addition to a first established data visualization window in the display area of a monitor. The method allows arrangement of at least one further data visualization window in the display area of a monitor while maintaining the aspect ratio and the size thereof, beside a first data visualization window. Free rectangular areas of the first data visualization window are detected in the display area and are filed in a list with their characteristic data. The area of the free rectangular areas and their aspect ration and the aspect ration of the first data visualization window are taken into consideration for the determination of the optimizing variable. The additional data visualization window is positioned in the rectangular area with a priority in the derived list.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This application is a national stage of PCT/DE00/00225 filed 21 Jan.2000.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for simultaneously displaying, atleast one additional data visualization window, and in particular, awindow having a prescribed area size and a prescribed aspect ratio withrespect to at least one first existing data visualization window.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a method is known generally and is performed in Microsoft's “Word”program following an “Arrange windows” command. In this case, thiscommand is used to split the windows on a monitor's available displayarea evenly and symmetrically. The sizes of the individual datavisualization windows are made uniform.

In many cases, however, this procedure is not what the respective userwants, because he frequently wishes to leave the size of the datavisualization windows in particular aspect ratios according to his datavisualization, and at the same time wishes to utilize the availabledisplay area in the best possible way in each case. To achieve thisgoal, the user is instructed to use the mouse, which involves himneeding to use a complex procedure to move the individual edges of thedata visualization windows with a plurality of subsequent corrections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention discloses use of a command to position at least oneadditional data visualization window optimally next to at least oneexisting data visualization window on the display area of a monitor.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is a method for simultaneouslydisplaying, at least one additional data visualization window, and inparticular, a window having a prescribed area size and a prescribedaspect ratio with respect to at least one first existing datavisualization window on the display area of a monitor in a dataprocessing installation operated with window applications, in which theindividual data visualization windows are positioned on the display areawithout overlap.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is a method forascertaining rectangular areas on the display area which are free fromthe at least first data visualization window and storing them with theircharacteristic data in a list. The free rectangular areas are sorted byassessing their characteristic data using an optimization variable andproducing a derived list, where an optimization variable is used whichis calculated on the basis of the area size of the free rectangularareas and the aspect ratio of the free rectangular areas with respect tothe aspect ratio of the at least one additional data visualizationwindow. The additional data visualization window is placed in thatrectangular area which is shown with priority in the derived list.

One advantage of the invention is that a command called “Optimizewindows”, for example, can be used to place at least one further datavisualization window automatically in an optimally suited free rectangleon the display area of a monitor next to at least one already existingdata visualization window, taking into account the additional datavisualization window's dimensions. In this case, the dimensions of theat least one further data visualization window are retained when it isarranged.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the size of theadditional data visualization window is matched to that of therectangular area in which it has been placed.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, calculation of theoptimization variable also involves taking into account the originaldistance between the additional data visualization window and therectangular areas.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the list is checkedto determine whether at least one rectangular area included therein isof a minimum size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To explain the invention further,

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of the sequence of an exemplary embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1—when an additional data visualization window needs tobe arranged in an optimum fashion next to an existing data visualizationwindow on the display area of a monitor in a data processinginstallation—a start command “Start” first causes the free rectangularareas An next to the one data visualization window to be calculated andto be stored in a list L1. The list L1 is then checked to determinewhether the number of free rectangular areas An ascertained is greaterthan zero, i.e. whether there are actually any free rectangular areasnext to the already existing first data visualization window. If this isnot the case, the operation is terminated.

If, by contrast, the list L1 includes at least one free, unusedrectangular area An next to the first data visualization window on thedisplay area of the monitor, then a next method involves checkingwhether the at least one rectangular area An from the list L1 is of aminimum size Fmin. If this is not the case, the method is terminated.

If, by contrast, at least one free, unused rectangular area An has anarea with the minimum size Fmin, the free rectangular areas An aresorted using an optimization variable Q in the list L1 to obtain aderived list L2. In this case, the optimization variable Q is dependenton the area size and on the quotient comprising the aspect ratio of therespective free rectangular area and the aspect ratio of the additionaldata visualization window. In addition, calculation of the optimizationvariable Q involves determining how close the respective rectangulararea An is to the current position of the further data visualizationwindow which is to be positioned. The free, unused rectangular areahaving the highest optimization variable is in first position in thederived list L2.

A subsequent method involves checking whether the additional datavisualization window is already at the position of the rectangular areahaving the greatest quality factor Q. If this is not the case, thefurther data visualization window is positioned at the position of therectangular area having the highest quality factor, and its size isadjusted to the rectangular area. Otherwise, the window is placed at theposition of the area having the second best quality factor.

1. A method for displaying at least two data visualization windows on adisplay area of a monitor in a data processing installation operatedwithin window applications, the method comprising: displaying at leastone existing data visualization window on said display area of saidmonitor; displaying at least one additional data visualization window onsaid display area of said monitor, the at least one additional datavisualization window having a prescribed area size and an aspect ratio;and optimizing the position of the at least one additional datavisualization window in response to a start command without changing thelocation of the existing data visualization window whereby the followingsteps are carried out; ascertaining free rectangular areas on saiddisplay area, wherein a free rectangular area is such an area that issituated outside the at least one existing data visualization window,storing the ascertained free rectangular areas with characteristic datain a list; sorting the free rectangular areas by assessing thecharacteristic data using an optimization variable which is calculatedbased on an area size and an aspect ratio of the free rectangular areaswith respect to the aspect ratio of the at least one additional datavisualization window, and producing a derived list; and placing the atleast one additional data visualization window without overlap next tothe existing data visualization area in the rectangular area shown withpriority in the derived list.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the size of the additional data visualization window is matchedto a rectangular area in which it has been placed.
 3. The method asclaimed in claim 2, wherein calculation of the optimization variabletakes into account a distance between the additional data visualizationwindow and the free rectangular areas.
 4. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein calculation of the optimization variable takes into account adistance between the additional data visualization window and the freerectangular areas.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the listis checked to determine whether at least one rectangular area includedtherein is a minimum size.